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Ukrainian ex-pilot’s defense team says will file complaint at Strasbourg court

Earlier in the day, the Moscow City Court terminated the proceeding upon a complaint filed by Savchenko against the refusal of Russia’s investigators to allow her to attend a PACE session

MOSCOW, September 16. /TASS/. The defense lawyers of former Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko said on Wednesday they plan to file a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights.

Earlier in the day, the Moscow City Court terminated the proceeding upon a complaint filed by Savchenko against the refusal of Russia’s investigators to allow her to attend a PACE session.

Savchenko’s lawyers have accused the court of red-tape. "All the deadlines have not been met, it has been four months since the complaint was filed. We will get the ruling and will file a complaint with the ECHR," lawyer Nikolay Polozov said.

Savchenko, 34, who has been in custody in Russia since July 2014, is charged with complicity in the murder of two Russian TV journalists in Donbass in June 2014 and the illegal crossing of the border with Russia.

The period of investigation on her case has been extended until November 13. If found guilty, Savchenko faces up to 25 years in prison. The Ukrainian does not admit her guilt.

Savchenko became a member of the Ukrainian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in January 2015.

Russia’s investigators say Savchenko committed the crime before she was granted international immunity and it is not linked to her work as a deputy.

On Tuesday, the Russian court denied Savchenko’s defence the right to file to PACE a motion on her immunity from criminal prosecution.